A RETIRED removal man has written a fictional book about the highs and lows of helping people move house.

Edward Davie, who lived in Maidenhead for 20 years before moving to Spain, has penned and self published his novel, Mister Shifter.

It is a comical, yet realistic, look at the removals world based on Edward's experience as the owner of a small household removals business until 2001, when the business was acquired by new owners.

Some of the events in the book take place in Marlow.

Edward, 74, said: "It took about 15 years to write, on and off. I started out to write a memoir but one thing led to another."

He wanted to show people the other side of the story.

He said: "It shows what is happening from the removal point of view. It is a work of fiction- I have used artistic license- but a lot of scenes are based on what happened."

Some of the tribulations the removal man faces is the demand for damages caused. One scene sees a customer try to claim damages for a settee which "looks like it's been resurrected from a council tip."

Edward said: "I guess perhaps one of the things was the competition culture that is predominant in society at the moment. I felt it in my later years.

"Customers became more and more difficult to deal with and I became less tolerant, which is a terrible thing to say when they are paying you to do the job."

He said he found some customers did not look at it from the removals point of view and could be very demanding.

Edward who lives in Spain with his wife, Ann, said: "It is meant to be funny. I would hope people would get enjoyment out of it.

"People who have read it so far are giving me positive reviews."

Mister Shifter is available to buy at www.amazon.co.uk.

An extract from the book: "A couple of months after meeting Jane, she asked what had kept me in the removal business over so many years. Was it for the love of it? She asked, all sweet and innocent. The thought crossed my mind she might be losing her marbles, or was trying to wind me up. But no, she was serious. Momentarily at a loss for words, I had to take two long sups of my Pinot Noir whilst collecting my thoughts for an appropriate response. 'Work for the love of it?' I stuttered hysterically, trying vainly to keep some semblance of control but unable to stop the tears streaming down my cheeks. 'You've got to be joking, Jane.'

From the look she gave me it was obvious she wasn't joking but she did regret that she'd asked the question. 'So what then?' she queried with considerable exasperation, thinking I was taking the mickey. 'If it's not that, smart-arse, what gives you the motivation?' That was one of the easiest questions I'm ever likely to have to answer, 'It's the lolly, Jane. Yes, indeed, the lolly, loot, dosh, money- call it what you will.'